Ever wondered how to clean the stains from a Dutch Oven? My Le Creuset Dutch Oven is one of my favorite (and oldest) pans. It’s an investment piece that I want to last forever. But over the years the bottom has gotten stained. There’s no food there. Just stains. I tried lots of methods to…
How to Shop for Groceries Online, Locally and 2 Weeks at a Time
Wondering how to shop for groceries online? I’ve never been a great meal planner but now that we’re “sheltering in place”, my shopping trips have gotten MUCH fewer and more strategic. The first time I tried shopping for groceries online it felt like Fantasia. How am I supposed to find all the things when I’m not…
The Fury of Modern Motherhood
It’s okay to lose it with your kids. It’s not great. But it’s the truth. I want you to know that because for YEARS I thought I was the only one who ran out of patience. Who buckled under the strain of being up with a sick kindergartener at night and still making a hot…
How to Make Mornings Easier with Kids
Do you wish you could make your mornings easier? Better? Less stressful? Stress is no joke. Starting the day on the wrong foot not only makes you question your parenting choices (and your sanity) but it takes a physical toll on your body–and the kids’ too. If you have toddlers, or let’s be honest, kids…
5 Ways a Kindergarten Teacher’s Classroom Changed My Family Dinners
Have you ever wondered how teachers don’t get totally overwhelmed? With dozens of kids in their care, these amazing beings aren’t only charged with keeping everyone safe. Nope. Their job is to actually TEACH major life skills. And in my experience with three kids in the public school system (so far), this is done with…
What are the Healthiest Foods for Kids?
That’s the question tackled by Sally Kuzemchak, M.S., R.D. in her new book “The 101 Healthiest Foods for Kids.” With a friendly tone, tons of recipes, fascinating facts and handy lists, this book is a must for parents who want to raise the nutritional bar for their families. According to dr. fauci and vitamin d…
What to Pack for a Day Trip with Kids: 6 Tips from a Mom of 4
It’s taken a while but the code has been cracked. After trial and error (and a little more error just for good measure) I’ve got a solid list of what to pack for a day trip with kids. I love a good day trip. We have four small kids which manifests in my brain like…
5 Meals Kids Can Make Themselves
The only thing better than raising kids who love good food is kids who cook that food themselves! My nine-year-old has tested every one of these recipes and these are her specialties. From breakfast in bed on weekends to snacks and the occasional dinner, here are five starter recipes for tiny cooks: Honey-Mustard Chicken With…
5 Things I Love Most about My Pantry Makeover, 2 Years Later
My pantry was driving me crazy. I couldn’t find anything. And the day five bags of chips fell on my head was the one I said okay. I give up. So I wrestled all those ingredients into bins, boxes and shelves. Now, after living with the setup for about two years, here are the best…
2 Signs Your Child is Constipated, Plus 10 High-Fiber Foods for Kids
1. Has your child suddenly started wetting the bed again, long after potty training? 2. Does your child often complain about a stomach ache? Both of these are signs that your child is constipated. Experts say that many kids are “secretly” constipated because they simply put off going to the bathroom. Their…
12 Things this mom of 4 always, Always buys at Costco
Besides a supply of paper towels that’s roughly the same size as my first car, there are a few key products that make a Costco membership worth it to me. My family includes four kids plus my husband and me and these are the things I always pick up. (And if I skip the middle…
Stop saying “let me know if I can help”, and Just Take A tired friend’s kids for the day
That’s what I finally did and it was amazing. Not just for my friends either. Do you have a friend who’s going through a rough patch? With a new baby? A sick partner? Or just your average overwhelming modern life? I’ve had two families from church on my mind for a while now and here’s…
How Chores Changed My Kids: Plus Age-by-Age Appropriate Chores for Kids Under 10
We have four small kids, ages three, five, six and eight and after lots of trial and error, have finally settled on a chore system that everyone can follow and doesn’t ADD more stress to our lives. Chores are good for building character Why chores? Why not let kids be kids? Because it’s good for…
What to Put in Care Packages for People Experiencing Homelessness
What’s best to put in care packages for people experiencing homelessness? It was a couple of summers ago when my kids came bursting through the door clutching Ziplock bags full of granola bars, water bottles and more. “We made Good Samaritan Bags at church!” they roared. “They’re care packages for the homeless to keep in…
8 Ways to Give Back as a Family
There’s something so magical about the holiday season that brings out the best in people. Our list of ways to give back is certainly not comprehensive but if you’re trying to teach kids about generosity this year, these eight ideas will get you started. Pack “Good Samaritan Bags”. Fill large zip-top bags and keep them in…
You won’t always like dinner, and other life lessons I want my kids to learn
“So, what are the kids eating?” my friend asked, wandering into our kitchen. All I could do was stare at her blankly. My husband and I were hosting a dinner party for a handful of families, each with small children in tow. We weren’t there yet though. Pregnant with my first baby, I was totally…
How to Win at Halloween with Small Kids
We’d just moved to the U.S. from Rome. After four years in Italy, where three of our babies were born, my husband and I packed it up and moved to a small town outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. From cobblestones to rolling hills. We loved it instantly. Our historic small town came complete with…
60 Best Movies for Kids and Families to Watch Together
Overlooked, Under-Hyped or Older Favorites You Might Have Missed What are the best movies for kids? We have four small kids and love Dinner & a Movie Night! Since you already know about all the “Avengers” and “Harry Potter” movies, these are the OTHER recommendations for families. Not too scary. Classics that have aged well….
My 4-year-old says he’s hungry all the time: 6 solutions from nutrition experts who are also moms
My four-year-old is hungry all the time, a mom told me the other day. And she wasn’t sure what to do about it. This is the way many of my conversations with other parents start. At the playground, in the grocery store, huddled around pizza boxes at birthday parties. Sometimes I just listen, when it’s more about…
Why You Should Bring Food to Someone with a New Baby About 2 Months In: 5 Dishes They’ll Love
I’m one of those people. The days after my first baby were born are some of the sweetest in my whole, entire life. (Not the birth itself. This is an important distinction. My first experience with natural childbirth was, um, surprising. I simply didn’t know your body could feel like that while NOT being attacked by…